Slowly but surely, the kid gloves are coming off.
Tonight, the Oregon women's basketball team hits the midway point of its 11-game nonconference slate with a visit by Long Beach State to McArthur Court at 7. With her team playing typically strong defense but faltering on the other end, UO coach Bev Smith is going to start expecting more from her young frontcourt players.
Turnovers have been a problem for the UO forwards, in the form of travelling and offensive fouls. Finishing layins hasn't always been a sure thing, and the inefficiency in the post has played a part in the Ducks shooting too many three-pointers — which they're making at only a 29.5 percent success rate.
That ranks eighth among Pac-10 teams. That's also Oregon's rank in turnover margin, at minus-three per game.
"We're shooting ourselves in the foot," Smith said. "Because defensively, I think we do a very good job of staying in games."
The Ducks (3-2) lead the conference in scoring defense at 54.2 points per game, and are one of four Pac-10 teams holding opponents under 36 percent shooting. So the focus is getting better offensive production, particularly from the freshman forwards.
"We spent a lot of this week ... trying to get them up-skilled so they're confident in their individual skill, which then can help our team system run a little bit better," Smith said.
Since upsetting Marquette in dramatic fashion at McArthur Court nine days ago, Oregon split two games at the New Mexico Thanksgiving Tournament. In a win over Coppin State on Friday, Nicole Canepa continued to struggle with fouls, while Ellyce Ironmonger had five more turnovers.
But Ironmonger came off the bench to score 13 points, and she replaced a third true freshman, Ellie Manou, in the starting lineup for Saturday's loss to New Mexico. Ironmonger is expected to start again tonight, though Smith said change should be anticipated over the course of the season.
"I think with our post players, we're going to see them kind of going in and out of being able to keep that focus," Smith said. "And as a result, I think Ellie's doing some things a little bit harder and little bit more aggressive. She can see that those are the things we need right now in the post."
Against Coppin State, Kaela Chapdelaine made four three-pointers in the second half on her way to a career-high 19 points. That followed her two key three-pointers in the comeback against Marquette three days earlier.
Chapdelaine is a versatile, gritty senior whose team-leading averages in rebounding (7.0) and assists (3.4) aren't unexpected. But among players with more than one attempt, she also leads the Ducks in three-point shooting percentage (34.8), after being seventh on the team last season at 31.3 percent.
"With experience needs to come some leadership, especially in that area," Chapdelaine said. "... Defense and rebounding is something you can control, I can bring that every day. Offensive skills, you've got to put a little more work into that, and this year I'm definitely trying to do that. Because I need to be there for my team."
Chapdelaine's increased production has been welcome given the shooting funk of Taylor Lilley, who set a school record by making 50.6 percent of her three-pointers last season but is 9-of-33 (27.3 percent) this season. Lilley is battling a lower leg injury, though she is expected to start tonight.
The 49ers (1-4) are the first of three straight nonleague opponents the Ducks will face for the second year in a row.
Oregon won at Long Beach State 44-33 last season, also got a win over Sunday's opponent, Portland, and recorded victories against its Dec. 8 foe in the Papé Jam UC Santa Barbara both in the preseason and the WNIT.OREGON WOMEN vs. LONG BEACH STATE
Oregon (3-2) Starters
Tamika Nurse, 5-8, jr. (6.0 ppg, 1.6 apg)
Taylor Lilley, 5-6, so. (10.4 ppg, 3.2 apg)
Kaela Chapdelaine, 5-10, sr. (9.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg)
Ellyce Ironmonger, 6-4, fr. (6.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg)
Nicole Canepa, 6-5, fr. (11.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Long Beach State (1-3) Starters
Karina Figueroa, 5-8, jr. (11.0 ppg, 4.5 apg)
Tyresha Calhoun, 5-6, sr. (10.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg)
Lauren Sims, 5-9, so. (8.3 ppg, 2.5 rpg)
Courtney Jacob, 5-11, so. (9.5 ppg, 4.8 apg)
Kaiti O'Brien, 6-0, sr. (7.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg)
Time: 7 p.m.
Radio/TV: KSCR 1320-AM/None.
Tickets: Reserved seats $15 and $12. General admission $8, or $5 for children and seniors.